Rare Tropical Plant "Hot Lips" in Bloom at Ocean Expo Park
Ocean Expo Park is hosting a limited-time exhibition of Palicourea tomentosa, known as "Hot Lips." This rare plant, featuring unique red lip-shaped bracts, is being displayed for the first time in four years.
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- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 00:40
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The Tropical Dream Center at Ocean Expo Park has announced that the tropical plant "Hot Lips" (Palicourea tomentosa) is currently in bloom. Known for its vivid red bracts that resemble lipstick-wearing lips, this species is a globally recognized rare plant. This marks only the second time, and the first in four years, that the park has exhibited this specimen.
Botanical Specifications:
- Scientific Name: Palicourea tomentosa (Family: Rubiaceae)
- Origin: Tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
- Characteristics: An evergreen shrub where the leaves surrounding the buds (bracts) turn from green to bright red. This evolution is designed to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. Small yellow flowers eventually emerge from the center of the bracts.
- Current Status: One specimen, approximately 60–70 cm in height, is on display.
Exhibition Details:
- Period: Until early June 2026 (subject to plant condition).
- Location: Vanda Greenhouse, Tropical Dream Center.
About the Facility:
Ocean Expo Park is a national park in Okinawa. Its Tropical Dream Center is a unique botanical garden featuring over 2,000 orchids and various tropical flora set within architecture reminiscent of ancient ruins.
Botanical Specifications:
- Scientific Name: Palicourea tomentosa (Family: Rubiaceae)
- Origin: Tropical rainforests of Central and South America.
- Characteristics: An evergreen shrub where the leaves surrounding the buds (bracts) turn from green to bright red. This evolution is designed to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. Small yellow flowers eventually emerge from the center of the bracts.
- Current Status: One specimen, approximately 60–70 cm in height, is on display.
Exhibition Details:
- Period: Until early June 2026 (subject to plant condition).
- Location: Vanda Greenhouse, Tropical Dream Center.
About the Facility:
Ocean Expo Park is a national park in Okinawa. Its Tropical Dream Center is a unique botanical garden featuring over 2,000 orchids and various tropical flora set within architecture reminiscent of ancient ruins.
FAQ
Why is the plant called 'Hot Lips'?
It is named after its bright red bracts, which evolve to look like human lips to attract pollinators like hummingbirds.
How long will the exhibit last?
It is expected to be on display until early June 2026, though this may change depending on the plant's health.